US embassy clarifies omission of Kejriwal
NEW DELHI: The Embassy of the United States of America clarified on Monday that the names of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia were dropped from an event to be attended US First Lady Melania Trump because the US authorities wanted to keep it apolitical.
A US Embassy spokesperson said: “While the US embassy had no objection to the presence of the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister, we appreciate their recognition that this is not a political event and that it is best to ensure that the focus is on education, the school, and the students.” The clarification came as Trump and Melania landed in Ahmedabad on Monday morning, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the US leader with a warm hug.
Sisodia later issued a statement, saying he respects the concerns expressed by the US.
“Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and I would have loved to personally receive the First Lady to the Delhi government school and brief her about the concept of Happiness Classes and the positive impact that it has had on students, during her visit to the classrooms.
“However, certain concerns were expressed by the US embassy regarding CM and Deputy CM accompanying first lady during the school visit. We respect the same,” he said.
Melania is scheduled to attend a “Happiness Class” at one of the Delhi government schools on Tuesday in Moti Bagh. The unique curriculum is an initiative if the Kejriwal government, floated by Sisodia who is also in charge of education.
Melania will be witnessing the Delhi government’s flagship happiness curriculum without the presence of its leaders, whose Aam Aadmi Party returned to power a third time last month with a majority that crippled Modi’s BJP. The curriculum has been appreciated much abroad, especially in the US. Melania will see first-hand the impact of the curriculum.
Sisodia brought the happiness class two years ago in an attempt to reduce stress among school children. AAP sees its work in the education and health sector as one of the reasons for its huge mandate in Delhi. It had won 62 of Delhi’s 70 assembly seats. The BJP won 8, a marginal improvement over his score of three in 2015. “poor state” of Delhi’s schools. The US First Lady visiting the school effectively counters that propoganda.
AAP’S National Executive member Preeti Sharma Menon had hit out at the Modi government over the development.